Dental appliance for use in supporting sensing devices within an oral cavity

ABSTRACT

A dental appliance is described herein. The dental appliance includes an abutment device adapted to be coupled to a jawbone and a sensor support assembly coupled to the abutment device. The sensor support assembly includes a sensor chamber that is configured to receive a sensing device therein. A chamber cover is coupled to the sensor support assembly to enclose the sensor chamber. The chamber cover includes a plurality of orifices that are configured to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication with an oral cavity. A tooth cap is coupled to the abutment device and includes a cap opening to receive the sensor support assembly therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/730,281, filed Oct. 11, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/829,481, filed Aug. 18, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No.9,814,427, issued Nov. 14, 2017), which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/038,587, filed Aug. 18, 2014,the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to dentalappliances, and more particularly, to a dental appliance for use withsensing devices including bacteria sensors and/or pH sensors for sensinga pH level of saliva contained within an oral cavity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dental plaque is a biofilm that forms naturally on teeth betweenbrushing and dental visits. Dental plaque can be a precursor to moresevere oral health problems including: dental caries, tooth decay,gingivitis, and chronic periodontitis. The occurrence of dentalcavities, gingivitis, and dental calculus are some of the most commonsystemic diseases of the body. In addition, oral diseases have beenshown to be an indicator of additional health problems such as highblood pressure, hypertension, and some cancers. Consequently, dentalpractitioners are in need of an adequate means to monitor and controlthe development of these oral diseases.

The oral cavity of the human body naturally produces saliva tofacilitate the breakdown of food during mastication. The saliva producedin the oral cavity may experience significant changes in pH levels.Changes in the pH levels of saliva within the oral cavity maysignificantly affect overall oral heath including causing an increase intooth decay and the formation of dental cavities.

At least some known oral pH sensors require substantially large dentaldevices that must be secured within the patient's mouth causingsignificant discomfort and distress for the patients. As such, it isdesirable to provide a dental appliance that facilitates supportingsensing devices within the oral cavity and reducing the discomfortexperience by the patient, thereby improving the overall health of thepatient. The present invention is aimed at the problem identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a dental appliance for use inpositioning a sensing device within an oral cavity is provided. Thedental appliance includes a sensor assembly and a tooth cap. The sensorassembly includes a support member and a sensor support assemblyextending outwardly from the support member. The sensor support assemblyincludes a recessed portion that defines a sensor chamber that isconfigured to receive the sensing device therein. The tooth cap iscoupled to the sensor assembly and adapted to be positioned within theoral cavity and orientated along a biting surface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a dental appliance for usein positioning a sensor device within an oral cavity is provided. Thedental appliance includes an abutment device adapted to be coupled to ajawbone, a sensor assembly, and a tooth cap. The sensor assemblyincludes a support member that is coupled to the abutment device and asensor support assembly extending outwardly from the support member. Thesensor support assembly includes a recessed portion that defines asensor chamber that is configured to receive the sensing device therein.The tooth cap is coupled to the sensor assembly and positioned withinthe oral cavity and orientated along a biting surface.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a dental appliance foruse in positioning a sensing device within an oral cavity is provided.The dental appliance includes a support member that is adapted to becoupled to a jawbone, an abutment device that is removably coupled tothe support member and extending outwardly from the jawbone, and asensor assembly coupled to the abutment device. The sensor assemblyincludes a support member coupled to an outer surface of the abutmentdevice, a sensor support assembly that is coupled to the support member,and a chamber cover. The sensor support assembly includes a recessedportion having an interior surface defining a sensor chamber therein.The sensor chamber configured to receive a sensor therein to facilitatesupporting the sensor within the sensor chamber. The chamber cover isremovably coupled to the sensor support assembly to enclose the sensorchamber. The chamber cover has a plurality of orifices extending throughthe chamber cover to couple the sensor chamber in flow communicationwith the oral cavity. A tooth cap is removably coupled to the abutmentdevice. The tooth cap has an inner surface and an outer surface. Theinner surface defines a cavity that is configured to receive theabutment device therein. The outer surface includes an opening thatextends through the tooth cap. The opening is configured to receive thesensor support assembly therein such that an outer surface of thechamber cover is substantially flush with the tooth cap outer surface.

In another aspect of the present invention, a dental appliance for usein positioning a sensing device within an oral cavity is provided. Thedental appliance includes an abutment device and a tooth cap. Theabutment device is adapted to be removably coupled a jawbone and extendsoutwardly from the jawbone into the oral cavity. The abutment deviceincludes a support member and a sensor support assembly that extendsoutwardly from an outer surface of the support member. The sensorsupport assembly includes a recessed portion having an interior surfacethat defines a sensor chamber therein. The sensor chamber is configuredto receive a sensor therein to facilitate supporting the sensor withinthe sensor chamber. A chamber cover is removably coupled to the sensorsupport assembly and is configured to enclose the sensor chamber. Thechamber cover has a plurality of orifices extending through the chambercover to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication with the oralcavity. The tooth cap is removably coupled to the abutment device. Thetooth cap has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surfacedefines a cavity that is configured to receive the support membertherein. The outer surface includes an opening that extends through thetooth cap and is configured to receive the sensor support assemblytherein such that an outer surface of the chamber cover is substantiallyflush with the tooth cap outer surface.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a dental appliance foruse in supporting a sensing device within an oral cavity is provided.The dental appliance includes a flexible dental tray including an innersurface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines a cavity that isconfigured to receive at least one tooth therein. A sensor supportassembly is coupled to the dental tray for supporting a sensing devicefrom the dental tray. A sensor attachment assembly is removably coupledto the sensor support assembly and a sensing device is coupled to thesensor attachment assembly. The sensor attachment assembly is configuredto support the sensing device from the sensor support assembly. In oneembodiment, the inner surface of the flexible dental tray includes arecessed portion defining a cavity that is configured to receive thesensor support assembly therein. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, the sensor support assembly is unitarily formed with theflexible dental tray and extends outwardly from the outer surface of theflexible dental tray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a dental appliance for use in supportingsensing devices within an oral cavity, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are additional schematic views of the dental applianceshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded schematic view of the dental appliance shown inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 5-7 are additional schematic views of the dental appliance shownin FIG. 1;

FIGS. 8-12 are perspective views of portions of the dental applianceshown in FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is another schematic view of the dental appliance, according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is another bottom view of the dental appliance shown in FIG. 13,according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 15-17 are additional views of the dental appliance shown in FIGS.1 and 13, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a top view of a dental appliance that may be used to supporta sensing device within an oral cavity, according to an embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 19-20 are perspective view of portions of the dental applianceshown in FIG. 18.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings and in operation, the invention overcomesat least some disadvantages of known dental appliances by providing adental appliance that may be used to support sensing devices within anoral cavity for use in sensing physiological and chemical data of aperson and/or animal. For example, the sensing device may include, butis not limited to including, pH sensors, pressure sensors, forcesensors, movement sensors, RFID, accelerometers, chemical sensors,and/or any suitable sensing device that may be positioned within an oralcavity of a human and/or animal. More specifically, the inventiondescribed herein includes a dental appliance that includes a sensorsupport assembly that includes a sensor chamber for use in supporting asensing device therein, and a removable chamber cover to allow access tothe sensing device and to enclose the sensing device within the sensorchamber during use. In addition, the chamber cover includes a pluralityof orifices extending through the chamber cover to allow the sensorchamber to be coupled in flow communication with the oral cavity. Byproviding a dental appliance that includes a recessed sensor chamber anda porous chamber cap, a sensing device for obtaining biometric sensordata may be placed within an oral cavity of a patient with minimaldiscomfort to the patient. In addition, by providing a porous chambercap, the dental appliance allows for fluid within the oral cavity tocontact the sensing device to facility sensing biometric data andfacilitates preventing damage to the sensing device during normalmasticating activities being performed by the patient, therebyincreasing the amount of time the sensing device may be positionedwithin the oral cavity and the amount of biometric data that may beobtained.

In general, the present invention is aimed at dental appliances that maybe used to replace one or more existing teeth within a patient's oralcavity. The dental appliance is adapted to replace all, or a portion of,one or more existing teeth to enable a patient to obtain a normalizedbite to facilitate improving the movement and function of the patientsteeth, gum, and/or jaw.

A selected embodiment of the invention will now be explained withreference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in theart from this disclosure that the following description of theembodiment of the invention is provided for illustration only and notfor the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a dental appliance 10 for use insupporting sensing devices 12 within an oral cavity, according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2-12 are additional views ofthe dental appliance 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the dentalappliance 10 is configured to replace one or more teeth positionedwithin an oral cavity of a patient. In one embodiment, the dentalappliance 10 is adapted to be coupled to a jawbone of a patient andextend outwardly from the jawbone and orientated with respect to one ormore existing teeth within a patient's mouth. In the illustratedembodiment, the dental appliance 10 includes a contoured outer surfaceto simulate one or more existing teeth positioned within the patient'smouth. In addition, the dental appliance 10 is configured to providesufficient bite support to enable the patient to perform normal oralfunctions with the dental appliance 10 positioned within the oralcavity. In one embodiment, the outer surface of the dental appliance maybe substantially similar to an existing tooth that was removed from thepatient's jaw to facilitate replacing the tooth with the dentalappliance 10. In one embodiment, the dental appliance 10 may beconfigured to be coupled to an existing tooth. For example, a portion ofthe surface area of an existing tooth may be reduced to accommodate thedental appliance 10 being placed over the existing tooth and coupled tothe existing tooth to form a row of teeth.

In the illustrated embodiment, the dental appliance 10 includes anabutment assembly 14 and a tooth cap 16. In one embodiment, the abutmentassembly 14 is configured to be removably coupled to a jawbone of apatient and extend outwardly from the jawbone into the oral cavity. Theabutment assembly 14 is orientated with respect to existing teeth toform a portion of a patient's biting surface. In one embodiment, thedental appliance 10 may include an anchoring member (not shown) that maybe embedded and/or coupled to the jawbone. The abutment assembly 14 isremovably coupled to the anchoring member to facilitate supporting theabutment assembly 14 from the jawbone. In another embodiment, theabutment assembly 14 may include an inner surface that defines a cavitythat is sized and shaped to receive an existing tooth 17 (shown in FIG.13) therein to facilitate supporting the abutment assembly 14 from theexisting tooth 17. For example, in one embodiment, the surface area ofan existing tooth 17 may be removed to reduce a cross-sectional area ofthe existing tooth to allow the abutment assembly 14 to be positionedover the existing tooth.

In the illustrated embodiment, the abutment assembly 14 includes anabutment device 18 and a sensor assembly 20 that is coupled to theabutment device 18. The sensor assembly 20 includes a support member 22and a sensor support assembly 24 that is coupled to the support member22. The sensor assembly 20 may be sized and shaped to extend across aspace in the bite line vacated by one or more teeth. The support member22 is coupled to an outer surface of the abutment device 18 tofacilitate supporting the sensor support assembly 24 from the abutmentdevice 18. In one embodiment, the support member 22 includes a supportring 23 having an inner surface that defines an opening 25 (shown inFIGS. 3 and 10-14) that is sized and shaped to receive a portion of theabutment device 18 therethrough. In another embodiment, the sensorassembly 20 does not include the support member 22 and the sensorsupport assembly 24 is coupled to the abutment device 18.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor support assembly 24 extendsoutwardly from the support member 22 and includes a recessed portionthat includes an inner surface that defines a sensor chamber 26 therein.The sensor chamber 26 is sized and shaped to receive the sensing device12 therein to facilitate supporting the sensing device 12 within thesensor chamber 26. The dental appliance 10 also includes a chamber cover28 that is configured to be removably coupled to the sensor supportassembly 24 to enclose sensing device 12 within the sensor chamber 26.In one embodiment, the chamber cover 28 may be removably coupled to thesensor support assembly 24 with one or more fastening members 29 suchas, for example screws and/or an adhesive. In another embodiment, thedental appliance 10 may not include the chamber cover 28. In addition,the dental appliance 10 may include a sensing device tray (not shown)that may be placed within the sensor chamber 26 and removably coupled tothe sensor support assembly 24 to facilitate supporting the sensingdevice 12 from the sensor support assembly 24. Moreover, in oneembodiment, the sensing device 12 may be coupled to the sensing devicetray with an adhesive and/or one or more fastening members.

In the illustrated embodiment, the chamber cover 28 may include a porousouter surface to allow the sensor chamber 26 to be coupled in flowcommunication with the surrounding oral cavity. For example, in oneembodiment, the chamber cover 28 may include a plurality of orifices 31extending through the chamber cover 28 to allow fluid and/or air to flowthrough the chamber cover 28 and between the sensor chamber 26 and theoral cavity to enable the sensing device 12 to contact the fluid and/orair being contained within the oral cavity.

The tooth cap 16 is adapted to be removably coupled to the abutmentdevice 18 to form at least a portion of the outer surface of the dentalappliance. In addition, the tooth cap 16 includes a contoured outersurface that is sized and shaped to simulate the surrounding existingteeth 17 and to facilitate forming a natural biting surface of thepatient. The tooth cap 16 also includes an inner surface that defines acavity that is configured to receive the abutment device 18 therein. Theouter surface of the tooth cap 16 includes a cap opening 30 that extendsthrough the tooth cap 16. The cap opening 30 is sized and shaped toreceive the sensor support assembly 24 therein such that the outersurface of the chamber cover 28 is substantially flush with the toothcap outer surface. In one embodiment, the tooth cap outer surface mayoverlap a portion of the sensor chamber 26 and/or the chamber cover 28to facilitate securing the chamber cover 28 and/or the sensing device 12within the sensor chamber 26. For example, in one embodiment, the sensorassembly 20 may not include the chamber cover 28. The tooth cap 16 outersurface may extend across all, or a portion of, the sensor chamber 26 tofacilitate supporting the sensing device 12 within the sensor chamber26, as shown in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, the cap opening 30 may besized and shaped to couple the sensor chamber 26 in flow communicationwith the oral cavity. In another embodiment, the tooth cap 16 may notinclude a cap opening 30. In addition, the tooth cap 16 may include aporous region extending across the sensor chamber 26 and/or one or moreorifices extending through the tooth cap 16 and orientated with respectto the sensor chamber 26 to facilitate channeling air/fluid between thesensor chamber 26 and the oral cavity.

In one embodiment, the abutment device 18 may include a supportingridgeline 32 that is positioned at or below the patient gumline 33. Inaddition, the tooth cap 16 may include a corresponding outer ridge 34that is configured to contact the supporting ridgeline 32 of theabutment device 18 to facilitate supporting the tooth cap 16. In theillustrated embodiment, the tooth cap 16 and the abutment assembly 14include corresponding openings that are each sized and shaped to receivea fastening assembly therein to facilitate removably coupling the toothcap 16 to the abutment assembly 14.

In one embodiment, during installation of the dental appliance 10, adentist and/or oral surgeon may place the sensing device 12 within thesensor chamber, secure the chamber cap to the abutment device, attachthe abutment device to the jawbone and/or existing tooth, and coupledthe tooth cap to the abutment device. During use, the sensing device maysense the chemistry composition and/or pH levels of saliva, fluid, air,and/or material within the patient's oral cavity during normal oraloperations.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of the dental appliance 10 including an uppermolar abutment and crown, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The abutment is fabricated to maximize the buccal surface ofupper molars for placement of sensor and/or a microchip device. The chipplatform can be altered depending on size of chip and tissue contour.Also, sensor/microchip could be screwed in place or bonded. The edges ofchip would be clear of tissue and restoration margins. Any popularrestoration could be screw retained or cemented to abutments. Abutmentscould be fabricated using titanium or zirconia with any widely usedrestoration material (Emax, PFM, Zirconia, etc. . . . ).

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the dental appliance 10, according toanother embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a bottom view ofthe dental appliance 10 shown in FIG. 13. In the illustrated embodiment,the dental appliance 10 includes a sensor assembly 20 and a tooth cap 16that is coupled to the sensor assembly 20. The sensor assembly 20includes a support member 22 that is sized and shaped to receive aportion of an existing tooth therethrough to facilitate coupling thedental appliance 10 to the existing tooth 17. For example, a portion ofthe outer surface of the existing tooth 17 may have been removed andshaped to facilitate coupling the support member 22 to the existingtooth outer surface. In one embodiment, the support member 22 includes asupport ring 23 that extends extending about a circumference of the atleast one existing tooth.

In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor assembly 20 includes a sensorsupport assembly 24 that extends outwardly from the support member 22.The sensor support assembly 24 includes a recessed portion defining asensor chamber 26 that is configured to receive a sensing device 12therein. The tooth cap 16 is coupled to the sensor assembly 20 and isadapted to be positioned within the oral cavity and orientated along abiting surface formed by adjacent teeth. In one embodiment, the toothcap 16 may include at least one opening and/or orifice that extendsthrough an outer surface of the tooth cap 16 to couple the sensorchamber 26 in flow communication with the oral cavity.

The sensor assembly 20 may also include a chamber cover 28 that isremovably coupled to the sensor support assembly 24 to enclose thesensor chamber 26. In addition, the chamber cover 28 may include atleast one orifice 31 (shown in FIG. 3) that extends through the chambercover 28 to couple the sensor chamber 26 in flow communication with theoral cavity to allow the sensing device 12 to contact the fluid and/orair present in the oral cavity. In another embodiment, the tooth cap 16may include a cap opening 30 that extends through the tooth cap 16. Thecap opening 30 is sized and shaped to receive the sensor supportassembly 24 therein, such that an outer surface of the chamber cover 28is substantially flush with the tooth cap outer surface.

FIGS. 15-17 are additional schematic views of the dental appliance 10,according to embodiments of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 15,in one embodiment, the dental appliance 10 may include a fixed dentalbridge 50 including the sensor assembly 20. The sensor assembly 20 iscoupled to the fixed dental bridge 50 to facilitate supporting thesensing device 12 from the fixed dental bridge 50. In anotherembodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the dental appliance 10 may include adenture 52 including the sensor assembly 20 coupled to a denture tooth54. In addition, in another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, the dentalappliance 10 may include a removable partial denture 56 including thesensor assembly 20 to a denture tooth 54.

FIG. 18 is a top view of the dental appliance 10, according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 19-20 are perspective view ofportions of the dental appliance 10. In the illustrated embodiment, thedental appliance 10 includes a flexible dental tray 36 and the sensorsupport assembly 24 is coupled to the flexible dental tray 36. Thedental tray 36 is sized and shaped to cover at least a portion of thebiting surface of one or more existing teeth. The dental tray 36includes an inner surface that defines a cavity that is configured toreceive at least one tooth therein. The sensor assembly 20 includes asensor support assembly 24 that is coupled to the dental tray 36 and asensor attachment device 38 that is removably coupled to the sensorsupport assembly 24. The sensor attachment device 38 is adapted to becoupled to the sensing device 12 to facilitate support the sensingdevice 12 from the sensor support assembly 24. In one embodiment, theinner surface of the flexible dental tray 36 includes a recessed portionthat defines a cavity that is configured to receive the sensor supportassembly 24 therein. In another embodiment, the sensor support assembly24 is unitarily formed with the flexible dental tray 36 and extendsoutwardly from an outer surface of the flexible dental tray 36. Duringoperation, the sensing device 12 is attached to the sensor attachmentdevice 38, which is coupled to the sensor support assembly 24. As thepatient wears the dental tray over the teeth, the sensing device 12contacts the fluid, air, and/or material within the oral cavity.

Exemplary embodiments of a dental appliance are described above indetail. The apparatus is not limited to the specific embodimentsdescribed herein, but rather, components of the apparatus may beutilized independently and separately from other components and/or stepsdescribed herein. For example, the apparatus may also be used incombination with other dental appliance systems, and are not limited topractice with only the dental appliance system as described herein.Rather, the exemplary embodiment can be implemented and utilized inconnection with many other applications.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal language of the claims.

While the invention has been described in terms of various specificembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventionmay be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of theclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dental appliance, comprising: an abutmentdevice adapted to be coupled to a jawbone; a support ring configured toextend radially about an outer surface of the abutment device; a sensorsupport assembly coupled to the support ring, the sensor supportassembly including a sensor chamber that is configured to receive asensing device therein; a chamber cover removably coupled to the sensorsupport assembly to enclose the sensor chamber, the chamber coverincluding a plurality of orifices defined along an outer surface of thechamber cover, each of the plurality of orifices configured to couplethe sensor chamber in flow communication with an oral cavity; and atooth cap coupled to the abutment device, the tooth cap including: acontoured outer surface forming a biting surface; an inner surfacedefining a cavity that is configured to receive the abutment device suchthat the tooth cap extends about a perimeter of the abutment device; anda cap opening extending through an outer surface of the tooth cap andconfigured to receive the sensor support assembly therein such that anouter surface of the chamber cover is substantially flush with the outersurface of the tooth cap.
 2. The dental appliance of claim 1, includingat least one fastener configured to couple the chamber cover to thesensor support assembly.
 3. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein theabutment device includes a supporting ridgeline, the tooth cap includingan outer ridge configured to contact the supporting ridgeline to supportthe tooth cap from the abutment device.
 4. The dental appliance of claim3, wherein the tooth cap is orientated between adjacent teeth.
 5. Thedental appliance of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a pHsensor.
 6. The dental appliance of claim 1, wherein each of theplurality of orifices are configured to allow saliva to enter the sensorchamber from the oral cavity.
 7. The dental appliance of claim 1,wherein the sensor support assembly extends radially outwardly from thesupport ring.
 8. The dental appliance of claim 1, including a jawboneanchoring member that is adapted to be coupled to the jawbone, theabutment device removably coupled to the jawbone anchoring member andextending outwardly from the jawbone anchoring member and into the oralcavity.
 9. The dental appliance of claim 1, the sensing device includesat least one of a pH sensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an RFIDdevice, and an accelerometer.
 10. A dental appliance, comprising: anabutment device adapted to be coupled to a jawbone; a support ringconfigured to extend radially about an outer surface of the abutmentdevice; a sensor support assembly extending radially outwardly from thesupport ring, the sensor support assembly including: a sensor chamberthat is configured to receive a sensing device therein; and at least oneorifice defined along an outer surface of the sensor support assemblyand configured to couple the sensor chamber in flow communication withan oral cavity; and a tooth cap coupled to the abutment device, thetooth cap including: a contoured outer surface forming a biting surface;an inner surface defining a cavity that is configured to receive theabutment device such that the tooth cap extends about a perimeter of theabutment device; and a cap opening extending through an outer surface ofthe tooth cap and configured to receive the sensor support assemblytherein such that an outer surface of the sensor support assemblysubstantially flush with the outer surface of the tooth cap.
 11. Thedental appliance of claim 10, wherein the abutment device includes asupporting ridgeline, the tooth cap including an outer ridge configuredto contact the supporting ridgeline to support the tooth cap from theabutment device.
 12. The dental appliance of claim 11, wherein the toothcap is orientated between adjacent teeth.
 13. The dental appliance ofclaim 11, wherein the outer ridge of the tooth cap is configured to bepositioned below a gumline.
 14. The dental appliance of claim 10,wherein the sensing device includes a pH sensor.
 15. The dentalappliance of claim 10, wherein the at least one orifice is configured toallow saliva to enter the sensor chamber from the oral cavity.
 16. Thedental appliance of claim 10, including a jawbone anchoring member thatis adapted to be coupled to the jawbone, the abutment device removablycoupled to the jawbone anchoring member and extending outwardly from thejawbone anchoring member and into the oral cavity.
 17. The dentalappliance of claim 10, the sensing device includes at least one of a pHsensor, a pressure sensor, a force sensor, an RFID device, and anaccelerometer.